Sharing and Reflecting During the Holidays

The holidays can be a hectic time. Amid your various commitments, it’s important to take some time to relax, reflect on the past year, and spend time with your family and friends.

When asked where they feel most content, many Prostate 8 participants have said that they are happiest at home or with their family. If you feel the same way, share your goals and achievements with them, related or unrelated to your cancer. If you are still trying to adjust to the Prostate 8 goals, talk about it with your friends and family—they might have some ideas for you, and can provide encouragement. 

Having a support network can help you accomplish your goals. Tell your family about your experience with the Prostate 8 trial, and discuss the lifestyle changes you have been making. Work toward the Prostate 8 goals with their help: Go for a hike together, or cook a recipe from the website. You might motivate others to adopt some of the healthy habits, too!

Think about what you’ve done in the past year—you’ve been managing your prostate cancer and, by enrolling in this trial, you’ve made great strides toward maintaining your health for the long term. This is a big accomplishment! We’ve enjoyed seeing your progress through your text messages and the Fitbit group. Take some time to reflect on your successes and achievements.

Happy holidays!

Change Up Your Exercise Routine

From trying resistance exercise to joining a gym for the first time, Prostate 8 participants have found a variety of ways to add variation to their exercise routines. It’s great to settle into a routine, but also important to keep improving instead of going on auto-pilot. By adding some small variations, you can keep your workouts interesting and make sure you don’t get stuck in a rut.

Try a new type of exercise

Change up your routine by experimenting with different types of exercise. If you only do aerobic exercise, consider checking out the weight machines—see last week’s blog post, “Getting Started with Resistance Exercise,” for tips. You could also sign up for a fitness class at your local gym. Just make sure to start slowly and build up the intensity as you feel comfortable.  

Exercise with someone else

If you usually exercise alone, invite a friend or family member to join you for your next workout. They might have some favorite exercises of their own that you can try, and you can share your ideas and goals with each other.

Work toward a goal

If you’re beginning to feel bored or unmotivated in your current routine, create a tangible goal to achieve. This could mean signing up and training for a race or competition, or trying to reach a certain number of steps on your Fitbit. Set a concrete, attainable goal that you can achieve in a reasonable timeframe, and focus your workouts around it.

Next time you work out, try adding some variation—small or large—to your routine. Be creative, and keep us updated via text message!